THIERRY GERMAIN Country: France Region: Loire Appellation(s):, Saumur Producer: Thierry Germain Founded: 1992 Annual Production: N/A Farming: Biodynamic, Organic since 2002 Website: http://www.rochesneuves.com/ The rendering of Thierry Germain by renowned French wine artist Michel Tolmer that appears on most of Thierry s labels is the perfect image to capture the essence of his accomplishment. A tall and imposing presence, physically and intellectually, Thierry casts a long shadow. His vines, old, wise, and vibrantly healthy thanks to biodynamic viticulture, cast an imposing shadow themselves. They meet in a symbolic embrace of perfect connection, each feeding off the other s energy. Thierry s domaine, Roches Neuves, whose vineyards are planted in the Saumur (Blanc) and (Rouge) appellations, has rightfully become one of the greatest examples of high achievement in biodynamic vine growing in France. We put him up there with the greats: Abbatucci in Corsica, Ganevat in the Jura, Ostertag in Alsace. His total dedication to site specific wines produced from Cabernet Franc and Chenin Blanc, his parcellaires, has produced some of the most exciting wines in the Loire Valley today. Thierry relocated to the Loire from Bordeaux in the early 1990s, and soon fell under the influence of his spiritual father, Charly Foucault of Clos Rougeard. Thierry would ultimately convert his entire domaine to biodynamic viticulture, which was the equivalent of his wine epiphany. Listening and observing his plants, allowing them to guide him, revolutionized his way of thinking. Thierry harvests on the relatively early side to preserve fresh, vibrant fruit. His goal is to produce Cabernet with purity, finesse, and drinkability, while avoiding rusticity, vegetal character, and hard tannins. When it comes to his Chenin, he makes bone dry, high acid, mineral wines that drink like Chablis young and take on weight slowly over time. Aging takes place in large oval foudres (for the whites) and round foudres and demi-muids (for the reds) in Thierry s frigid tuffeau cellars below his winery in Varrains. His incredibly diverse terroirs are translated with utter clarity and precision. While most of Thierry s bottlings bear the Roches Neuves name, others include the name of his long-time associate and vineyard manager at the domaine, Michel Chevré, who purchased some of his own vineyards with Thierry s encouragement. These wines are followed by Thierry, Michel, and their team (biodynamically of course) from vine to cellar and vinified at Roches Neuves in Varrains.
Wine Blend Vine Age Soil Type Domaine Cabernet Franc 4 to 70 years Les Roches Cabernet Franc 25 years Terres Chaudes Cabernet Franc 45 years Marginale Cabernet Franc 45 years Franc de Pied Clos de l'echelier Sand, Clay, Tuffeau Chalk, Sand, Clay, Clay, Tuffeau Clay, Turonien Supérieur Vineyard Area* 15 ha 6 ha 4 ha 2.5 ha Cabernet Franc 12 years Sand, 1.20 ha Cabernet Franc 40 years Mémoires Cabernet Franc 112 years Outre Terre Clay, Turonien Supérieur Silex Scree, Turonien Supérieur 1.80 ha 0.8 ha Cabernet Franc 20 years Clay, 0.60 Saumur L'Insolite Chenin Blanc 90 years Silex, Clay, Red, Sandstone 3 ha Saumur Clos Romans Chenin Blanc 8 years Sand, Clay, Senonien 0.30 ha Saumur Sand, Clay, Turonien Chenin Blanc 70 years L'Echelier Blanc Supérieur 1 ha Saumur Clos de l'ecotard Chenin Blanc 8 years Clay, Active (with limestone 1 ha outcroppings) Saumur Les Pentes du Clos de l'ecotard Chenin Blanc 8 years Active 1 ha Saumur Sand, Clay, Senonien Chenin Blanc 80 years Le Clos du Moulin 1 ha Saumur Terres Chenin Blanc 90 years Silex, Clay 0.60 ha Saumur Bulles de Roche 90% Chenin Blanc, 5% Cabernet Franc, 5% Chardonnay 60 years Clay, 1.20 ha * ha =hectares; one hectare equals roughly two and a half acres
VITICULTURE / VINIFICATION Hand harvested Sorted by hand at the winery Natural fermentation for all wines No new oak barrels or tanks of any size All still wines aged in bottle for 6 months All vineyards are certified biodynamic by Biodyvin except the Clos de L Ecotard which is certified organic by Ecocert (and is also worked biodynamically) Domaine Fermentation in stainless steel tank for 8 to 10 days Aged in stainless steel and wood tanks, on fine lees, without sulfur, for 3 to 4 months Communes: Chaintres de Varrains and Saumur Les Roches Fermentation in stainless steel tank for 8 to 10 days Aged in stainless steel and wood tanks, on fine lees, without sulfur, for 3 to 4 months Communes: Chaintres de Varrains and Saumur Terres Chaudes Fermented in cement tank for 18 to 22 days Aged on fine lees in 6000L or 1200L foudre for 12 months Commune: Chacé Sourced from the lieu-dit Les Poyeux
Marginale Fermented in foudre Aged in 228L (2 3 year old) barrels, 1200L foudre, and 2500L foudre for 18 to 24 months Only made in great vintages Communes: Chacé and Varrains Franc de Pied 100% whole cluster fermentation Fermentation in foudre for 8 to 10 days 1 punchdown per day Aged in 1200L foudre for 12 months Clos de l'echelier Fermented in conical tanks Fermentation lasts 10 to 15 days Aged in 1200L foudre and 600L demi-muid for 12 months Commune: Dampierre sur Loire Vineyard is an actual clos, surrounded by a wall built 300 years ago Mémoires Fermented in conical tanks Fermentation lasts 10 to 15 days Light during fermentation pumpovers meant to infuse the grapes not extract them Aged in 2500L foudre for 12 months Commune: Dampierre sur Loire
Outre Terre Fermentation and macération for 8 months in 800L Georgian amphora No punchdowns or pumpovers Aged for 12 months in barrel No sulfur Bottled in the cellar directly from barrel to bottle Saumur L'Insolite Fermentation in 1200L foudre for 2 months Aged on fine lees in 1200L foudre for 12 months, lieux-dits Les Cerpes and Saint Vincent Saumur Clos Romans Fermented in 400L barrel for 2 months Aged on fine lees in 400L barrel for 9 months Commune: Parnay Vineyard is an actual clos, surrounded by a wall built in the 9th century Saumur L'Echelier Fermented in 600L (1 year old) demi-muid for 3 months Aged on fine lees in 600L demi-muid for 9 months Commune: Dampierre sur Loire Vineyard is an actual clos, surrounded by a wall built 300 years ago Saumur Clos de l'ecotard Green harvesting, leaving only 4 to 6 bunches per vine Fermentation in 400L barrels for 1/3 of wine, 228L (2 year old) barrels for 2/3 Aged in 1200L foudre for 8 months Commune: Courchamps, lieu-dit Clos de l Ecotard Saumur Les Pentes du Clos de l'ecotard Fermented in 2500L foudre for 6 weeks Aged in 2500L foudre for 8 month Commune: Courchamps, lieu-dit Clos de l Ecotard
Saumur Le Clos du Moulin Fermented in 600L (1 year old) demi-muid for 3 months Aged in 228L barrels for 8 months Commune: Parnay Saumur Terres Fermentation and macération with skins for 8 months in 400L Italian amphora Aged for 12 months in barrel No sulfur Saumur Bulles de Roche Sparkling wine Aged for 3 months in 228L barrels, then bottle aged, sur latte, for 9 months No dosage